Obituary of Florence Nan Benjamin

Anûkatha Wîyâ

September 26, 1959 – Calgary, Alberta

May 23, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

The family of Florence “Nan” Benjamin are heartbroken to announce her peaceful passing on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the age of 64 years.

Nan received her Education at Morley Day School. She also trained to become certified in filling out Government of Canada GST and Tax Forms. Nan worked at various departments within Stoney Tribal Administration for over thirty-seven years. She started as a receptionist eventually becoming a senior cheque processing clerk. She deeply honoured and believed in her Traditional Culture and would participate in Sundance, Sweat Lodge, Pow Wow, and Hunting Camps.

Nan had a beautiful spirit. She was very kind, gentlehearted, and had great respect for all. Nan loved to laugh and joke around with everyone. She loved children and helped Ena raise children in her care. She loved her daughters, children, and grandchildren and would do absolutely anything to help them in any way she could. Nan would sing gospel songs at Wake Services and Funerals for grieving families within the community.

Nan was raised on a farm and also at Gardner Ranch. She was also very proud of being in a family of Indian World Champions in the sport of rodeo. She supported, sponsored, and loved travelling to rodeos to watch her family participate in the rodeo. Nan travelled around British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the United States and she especially enjoyed attending the rodeo finals in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada. She loved the sport of hockey too and was a proud supporter of her late brothers and later, her grandchildren to carry on the family’s legacy in the world of hockey today. Besides hockey, Nan also loved to watch movies.

Nan is survived by her best friend Bruce Wesley-Beaver, daughters, Lynel (Derrik) and Shelly (Ken); adopted brother Bruce Labelle, adopted daughters, Wyo (Sheldon), Woncha, Jackie, Laverne, Diandra, and Sharon; adopted sons, Ollin, Jace, Donald, and Ty; grandchildren, Nelly, Dalason, River, Shay, Arielle, Mattea, Sequwen, Chunnuh, Kyle, Shayne, Tyler, and Wagiyaweya; adopted grandson Rashaun, great-grandchildren, Aurora, Videl, and Keaton; sisters, Mina, Evangeline, Lori Ann, and Melanie; brothers, Ollie (Laine), Elliott (Maureen), Earl (Norma), Littlechild, Lawrence, and Chief Darcy Dixon; and family, Joe, Charlie, Morris, Trevor, Germaine, Rhonda Bird, Elroy (Debbie), Robert Bearhead, Donna Mae Peterson, Billy, Roger, Lila, and Gloria Rider; forty-four nieces and nephews, ninety-seven grandnieces and grandnephews, sixty-six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, cousins, Violet Beaver, Kathleen Holloway, Brian (Eldra), and Delphine; uncles, Frank (Marjorie) and Paul Chiniquay; families from Eva, Helen, Norman, Doreen, Norma, Debbie, Lorna Bearspaw, Winnifred Beaver, Lou Crawler Jr., and Glenda Crawler; and also the families of Amos, Benjamin, Baptiste, Beaver, Bearspaw, Bird, Crawler, Chiniquay, House, Holloway, Hunter, Lefthand, Labelle, Powderface, Wesley, Snow, Dixon, Gardner, Rider, Twoyoungmen, Kaquitts, and Stephens.

Nan was predeceased by her stillborn son in 2013, her parents, Paul Dixon Jr. and Lily Benjamin; grandparents, Paul Dixon Sr. (Florence) and Jonas (Libby); brothers, Michael, Rudy, Vern, Gilbert, Harvey, and Isaac Bird; sisters, Velma (Gerald) and Carol Bird; brothers-in-law, Charles and Van; uncles, Don Dixon, Lawrence Dixon, Peter (Louise) Bird, and Jacob (Hannah) Crawler; aunties, Maisie, Edna, Ella, and Dorothy; cousins, Bertha and Jennifer; in-laws, Judea and Mary Wesley-Beaver; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

We apologize if we have missed anyone.

Wake Services will be held at the Residence of Ollie Benjamin (Mînî Thnî, AB) on Monday, May 27, 2024 and Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Funeral Services will be held at the Bearspaw Youth Centre (Mînî Thnî, AB) on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.  Graveside Service to follow at Wesley Cemetery (Mînî Thnî, AB). 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Nan’s family here.

The family would like to thank the Home Care and Foothills Medical Centre Unit 37 staff for taking care of Nan.

In living memory of Florence “Nan” Benjamin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.